The final birthmark we'll examine is steadfastness鈥攖he ability to continue in faith over time. This isn't about our ability to hold onto God, but His faithfulness to hold onto us.
John 8:31 "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples.'"
Jesus isn't talking about perfection here鈥擧e's talking about perseverance. There are lots of people who start off very excited about religion. You see it all the time: revivals where thousands get baptized, people bursting through church doors claiming to be changed. But Jesus says the mark of real disciples is that they continue, they remain, they abide.
This is what theologians call the perseverance of the saints, though I like RC Sproul's term better: the preservation of the saints. It's not about our power to hold onto God鈥攊t's about His power to hold onto us.
Think about that. If it was up to me to secure my salvation, to hold onto it, to cling to it, I would lose it every single day. In fact (and once again) to think you could possibly lose your salvation and haven't would be the epitome of pride.
If you are a genuine believer, can I give you a promise from the God who cannot lie?
God will keep you. He will "hold you fast."
You might stumble, you might go through seasons of doubt or rebellion, but God will bring you back because His sheep hear His voice.
Jesus says in John 10:28-29, "I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
That doesn't mean genuine Christians never struggle. I struggled with assurance for years as a kid and teenager. I had real doubts, real insomnia, real fear about my eternal destiny. But those struggles were actually evidence of God's work in my heart鈥攕omeone without the Spirit doesn't care about their standing before God.
Here's the beautiful truth: your steadfastness isn't dependent on your strength but on God's faithfulness. When you see evidence of perseverance in your life鈥攃ontinued hunger for God's word, ongoing love for His people, persistent battle against sin鈥攖hat's God preserving you, not you preserving yourself.
1. How does knowing that your security depends on God's faithfulness rather than your performance change your approach to faith?
2. What evidence do you see of God's preserving work in your life, even through seasons of struggle or doubt?
3. How can the doctrine of eternal security motivate obedience rather than license to sin?
Stay dialed in.